But women also have to finesse situations, we can't rely on our brawn, so I think we are also more cooperative together for the mutual good. Not only will these ladies go to bat for theirfamilies but they will also work HARD to ensure prosperity . Maybe not every woman , but that is why they only invite whom they see to be on the same page.

Hi Syn,

I hear ya, the underground permaculture-garden homesteading ladies in my neck of the woods are outstanding! we share in so many ways.. I am so glad to hear that its happening in so many other places as well.

guess i'll will dust this ol' boy off. ..

... I read alot of posts about people worried about OPSEC..." maybe I'll just sit in the corner and watch" if we all just sit in the corner and watch then we could be potentially passing up valuable knowledge and information...

This site has a ton of info, i get a new tidbit everytime i come here, but I admit that i shake my head everytime i see a thread about meeting up and then read that no one showed up..it's dishearting...

Snips from gmurphy post from June 2015

I have been "busy for awhile" and I haven't been on this site for a while.

As I was the only one who has mentioned OPSEC and "maybe I'll just sit in the corner (of Tim Hortons) and watch" in an earlier thread, I do feel called out by gmurphy on this one.

Perhaps if the "lets go for coffee" crowd would actually contribute first-hand information (as opposed to Internet searches and other arm-chair epiphanies) , one could form an opinion of ones character without the need of a face-to-face with a stranger in an overcrowded coffee shop. The amount of posts trying to make coffee dates exceeds the number of posts describing FIRST HAND experience with prepper related activities.

While I do not deny the importance of establishing a community of like-minded individuals, I prefer to use other means than spending time and money over bad coffee. Prepping, like Fight Club, has one rule: never talk about it with people until a VERY high level of trust is established.

While I am flattered that my response to aaronbourge a long time ago has reached legendary status of " a lot of posts about people worried about OPSEC and 'maybe I'll just sit in the corner and watch'", I will practice my art of prepping in a private fashion which includes gleaning information from forums such as this. I will contribute when I have something to say.

Hi oden-grey, the point I was trying to make is that those that "sit in the corner and watch" do just that...those folks don't get out of their bubble and meet new folks. If you go back and wander this site, you will find my posts about my experiences getting out and meeting folks instead of "sitting in the corner and watching". I now have some very good friends, that came from this site, that I would not have meet if i didnt make the effort and take a chance on "bad cup of coffee". Do as you will, it is a free country..or its suppose to be anyways.

I see it this in all ways.

I have planned coffee meets that have had a dozen plus.. it was to many people.. no one really felt comfortable.. the number was to big.. The ones that knew each other, made the ones that didn't feel a little out of the "loop" or so I was told afterwards

I have also had people ask for a meet, taken the day off my farm and driven the hour plus and that very morning been told I will have at least six or more show up and then sit there with only my husband as NO ones shows up and then after heard.. this and that about why not.. Thankfully, we had planned to go shopping afterwards or I would have been sitting there alone.

I have also have small coffee gatherings of two to four where way to personal questions get asked, and I have had small four to six meetings that where perfect.. great way to meet, great visiting, the right mix of sharing and touching on subjects.

Moving on the bigger gathering, I have hosted the yearly Ottawa and area summer gathering, my smallest was 14 people and my biggest just over 40.. the ideal appears to be in the mid-20's but I have also changed up the format.. and I will be adjusting again this year..

the first year or two, way to much time spent on introductions and why I am here.. That's what the Spring coffee meets are for, the big day, there is a morning coffee chat, a lunch chat and parking lot after chat but the day itself is about learning.. two sessions slots in the morning and two in the afternoon.

I have to admit that very few of the folks I meet at the gatherings make it into my circle for closeness but a few have and they are so worth it..

So for me.. Taking the risk to meet folks is worth it, taking my time to make sure I want to continue that relationship to what level.. general friend level.. personal friend level or in the inner circle level.. well the meet is to introduce yourself but it takes a lot of time to figure out the rest..

[Prepping, like Fight Club, has one rule: never talk about it with people until a VERY high level of trust is established./quote]

After much internal indecision in the past couple years, I've decided to start talking more about preparedness, to varying degrees, with friends who are at various levels of closeness/trust. I think of it like concentric rings...Of those in the "outer" ring, some know I shoot & own guns, some know I do "homestead-y" things like soap making, seed-saving, lots of cooking and food drying & preservation, and ham radio. My work colleagues know I do first aid (for work liability reasons, of course haha) and some know I shoot (but I many are military or ex-mil so not remarkable). My neighbors know I do lots of my own home repair, and that I know about extreme weather & natural disasters because I gave a community workshop a while back. Most of the people in these groups don't know each other. Maybe some think I am just uptight, waiting for the next big quake 😆 (not that I give a rat's behind). One acquaintance commented that I am very "self-reliant" 🙂 I don't think I really am, but maybe compared to others she knows. Also, now that some of my friends are moving from urban areas out to rural acreages, I think they acknowledge that city services aren't always readily available or take much longer, so they need to make provisions for taking care of things themselves. Or female friends split from their partner and suddenly have to learn the things "he" used to do (the stuff I've been doing all along).

Only some of my family (none of whom live nearby) and my closest friends know the whole picture. They are on the same page as me, but I didn't "come out" as a prepper all at once - I broached certain topics gradually so it seemed like a natural progression. I am not totally hardcore, at this point. Part of my desire to talk about it because I don't want to hide a part of myself, but also I want to gauge their reception. So far, I've been pleasantly surprised at the positive reception, either that or it's treated as "normal" - guess that means I don't have spoiled & entitled friends 😛

Farmgal, I would like to attend one of your meetings. How often do you set them up? I think a 6-10 person group would be a good size so everyone gets a chance to talk. Do you just meet for coffees, or has anyone suggested anything different?

Hi Wkhiker

We have typically set up a spring coffee-lunch get together, its in keeping with the style you typically see on the board, its in a fairly central gathering spot in Ottawa, its very much a hi, my name is.. I tend to lean this way or that in my personal prepping style.

Then I do a bigger summer meet, it has changed over the years and continues to do so, where we used to do a more meet and greet style, we have moved it more and more to a full day of seminars.. The outline now typically is 9am till 4pm. We do a half hour to a hour of Meet-coffee, then we do two one hour or sometimes we do two half hour talks on different subjects, then we break for lunch for a hour.. then start back up for another two sessions and then we do draws and so forth and a bit of after meet parking lot visiting and so forth..

That has been done in a local forest at big community area with tables and cover etc.. but this coming year, (if all goes as planned) we are going to be moving the location and into a hall with power and such.. It is about 45 min outside of Ottawa, and we have had folks car pool before but most of the time you do need a vehicle to reach it.

If folks wanted to do a late fall meeting, it would be fine but to date, I am far to busy on the farm to do a fall-early winter meet.. Watch for a topic called Ottawa Meet and gatherings and tag yourself in them as they go up for 2017 and it will keep you up to date on everything that is planned and if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask or send me a pm 🙂 Have a great day

I guess what really bugs me is the fact that there are many people that use this site, and I would venture a guess that probably at 50% "lurk".. Now, folks are free to do as they please, we don't live in north Korea...but I'm gonna be blunt and throw this out there for everyone. Some of you will understand, some of you are gonna call me an insensitive assh*le...I'm fine with that.

Folks, there are those of us in society that "get it", those of us that can look around without the rose colored glasses and see the horrible sh*tty mess our society is in and realize that things most likely won't get better. Those same people ( the realist type) in my opinion, take a proactive approach to being prepared, willing to do what is needed to be as ready as one can be.
I won't lie, I am a very blunt person, to be frank..I just don't give a sh*t about emotions or feelings...I don't believe they have a place in prepping. Full stop. The lurking, hide in the corner type of folk make me shake my head. Here's why, there are a ton of resources just on this website alone. Each topic, comment etc was typed by someone who obviously has some insight into said topic. Now, why in the hell are some people content with just reading words on a screen? It boggles my mind folks!!

When I first found this website, I was amazed at how much info was on here! What got my attention even more was the fact that there were potentially all these people( some close to home, some not) to meet to talk with and get even more knowledge from....Well I'll be sum b*tch, I sure as hell didn't waste much time meeting folks, why? knowledge! This website has great info, we know that, but some of the best info I have learned has come from the people I went out and meet from this site, some of whom are now good friends and allies!

At some point folks, something sh*tty just may happen in society that forces us to rely on complete strangers. That's not a pleasant thought, but I hate to be blunt( actually no I don't) but the lurking crowd are gonna be sh*t outta luck and in big trouble when they need an ally but refused to do so because they were nervous about meeting people. Opsec is one thing...don't make it the only thing!!!

You mean you can actually get someone to meet for a cup of coffee?

Well I am always up for a meet and greet.

Murphy, if you want more interaction, narrow it down from "somewhere, BC".

E.g. , Island, lower mainland, okanagan, etc.

I'm here, near nanaimo; if anyone wants to chat.

Just to defend "the lurking crowd"... to say that's hiding in the corner is a bit judgy. I agree one cannot be an island, but be aware that someone may be quiet on the forums; that does not necessarily mean they are in face-to-face life. I am a borderline introvert-extrovert (dep on situation and the crowd I'm in). Generally, I don't comment unless I feel like I have something to add to the conversation. I enjoy learning from others, I am always willing to give my opinion, and I've come to most of the in-person local get-togethers (luckily I live close enough; not everyone does). I love the new "heart" feature here, as one way to interact, but as far as advice, I don't consider myself an expert compared to many here. And I'm just fine with that...bloom where you're planted.

No need to defend the lurking crowd. They'll get out of this site what they put in. I've met a few good people thanks to this site!

Always looking to meet more!

Great posts! Enjoyed the reading. Hooking up with individuals is a very worthwhile thing IMO. Sometimes it can be difficult to say the least and really for many it could be agenda specific. For example I myself look seek to meet others but Im really only looking for people that are local in nature for many reasons. First off it can be made relatively easy for meet ups, and if bonds can be made it would make for a more consistent opportunity to meet again and share. Share ideas, share tools and or labour. Generally working together I suppose. I don't think meeting others ( which I have ) that are too far away can really become of much other than info sharing and general prepping banter ( which I do enjoy ) but realistically that can be done here or via email or such. Lending my personal time with others that don't really live in my immediate area can be time consuming and more importantly can sacrifice Opsec. For myself Im more than willing to work with others on an equal platform with work or project sharing with the right people. I would be able to open up more garden area if need be or trade items or group purchase too. Trying to find a solid individual to help further BOTH our endeavours would be my ultimate goal personally. If someone lives more than 100km away things get tough and time would get short through simple commuting and so forth. Having similar mindsets would help and I think we all have the ultimate goal of becoming more prepared overall. I think getting a tight group is difficult however I think its more than worthwhile to work at it and make it happen.

Iv got my post up here and hope to meet other awesome people.

Good post, Turnip.

But like I pointed out earlier..... If you don't put a city/region in your profile, how can you reasonably expect the average lurker within 100 km to contact you, if they don't know how close they are to you?

E.g. Vancouver island, Richmond...

Hardly ruining opsec by giving up Generalities like that on your profile.